Page 20

But there were enough motion sensors and alarms around the property to notify them if anything larger than a ground dove landed on their soil. And speaking of safety…

Kensley was wiping down the counter with a towel, all remnants of their meal put away, every surface spotless—probably something he had to do after meals at the abbey. Bishop took his hand and led him to what looked like a floor-sized gilded mirror in the hall near the bedroom door.

“It’s unlikely we’ll ever need to use this while we’re here,” Bishop said, “but I want you to know where it is, in case.”

“What’s where?”

Bishop hooked his fingers behind a scrolled detail at chest-height and pressed a latch.

The mirror popped forward, and Bishop pulled it open to reveal a set of stairs that descended into darkness.

“A panic room. If, for any reason, which I highly doubt will happen, we are attacked, you are to come here.” He took Kensley’s hand so he could feel the latch, then showed him the light switch and how to shut the door from the inside.

“Only a handful of people know it’s here.

There is a supply of water and food, flashlights and batteries, as well as a satellite phone.

There’s also an upholstered chair with a handgun inside the cushion. ”

Kensley blanched.

“Again, this is just a worst-case scenario option,” Bishop continued as he closed the mirror. “If you have to hide down there, you don’t come out again unless it’s me, King, or someone else who knows the password.”

“Which is what?”

“Hyacinth.”

Kensley’s frown shifted into an amused half-grin. “That’s my favorite flower.”

“I know. You told me once. You said you love it, because you can only smell it fresh for a few weeks each year, so that makes it precious.”

“Yeah. I planted some in the abbey garden my third year there, and they’ve bloomed each spring since.”

“I’m glad.” And he was. “But do you understand the panic room plan?”

“Yes, I do. Thank you for showing me, even though I won’t need to use it.” Kensley’s absolute faith in him made Bishop’s heart soar. “Are we going to keep touring the house and its hiding spaces, or are we going to play in the hot tub?”

Bishop growled softly. “Hot tub. I hope that steak dinner woke you up, because I don’t plan on letting you go back to sleep until sunrise.”

Kensley let out a sharp breath and stepped deeper into his personal space. “I slept longer than you today, so let’s see what you’ve got, Mr. Anders.”

“Gladly, Mr. Thorne.” He scooped Kensley into his arms before the smaller man had a chance to react, loving the way Kensley felt. The way he fit. As if they were made exactly for each other—not the first time he’d thought that, either.

For the briefest of moments, fourteen years ago, Bishop had picked a wounded teenage Kensley up off the floor, and he’d marveled at how perfectly Kensley had fit there.

As if we were made for each other…like the mythical charum.

Kensley laughed, which snapped Bishop out of that thought, then looped his arms around Bishop’s neck. Nuzzled his nose against Bishop’s cheek. “I like how you carry me. It makes me feel safe and protected, like earlier.”

“I’m glad. I love you in my arms.” Standing up, snuggling on the couch, curled up in bed—didn’t matter as long as he could hold Kensley close.

He carried Kensley outside to the bubbling hot tub, and then gently set him on his feet.

Gave Kensley only a moment to get his balance before yanking Kensley’s robe off, baring his omega to his gaze and his whims.

Kensley’s dick was already thickening, and Bishop swore he smelled the sweetness of the cream he’d gorged himself on a few hours ago.

He probably couldn’t, not with the strong scents of salt, ocean water, and chlorine, but he hadn’t forgotten the delectable aroma.

Bishop slipped his hand right into Kensley’s crease and rubbed at his damp hole. “You sore?”

Kensley moaned, hands grabbing the front of Bishop’s robe. “Not too sore for you. It’s like my hole was formed with your cock in mind, Bishop. Made just for you. I need it.”

Those filthy words tore at what little restraint Bishop had while Kensley stood naked in front of him.

He shucked his own robe, and he didn’t have a moment to plan his next move before Kensley slid to his knees.

He took Bishop’s cock into his mouth, as deep as he could without choking, and then set a quick, bobbing pace.

More than that pretty mouth sucking his cock, Bishop fell into the way Kensley gazed up at him, eyes simmering with lust and desire, and something that could have been love.

Bishop threaded his fingers in Kensley’s hair, adoring the way those silky strands slipped through his fingers, light like raven’s feathers.

He wanted to hold, to thrust, to come down Kensley’s throat, but that would end things far too soon.

So he let Kensley play his body for a while, worshiping Bishop’s cock until his orgasm winked at him.

Teasing its nearness. He carefully pulled Kensley off, then up for a long, leisurely kiss.

A kiss that promised and teased, while hands stroked and pinched.

He kneaded Kensley’s ass, pulling his cheeks apart and pressing them together, enjoying the way Kensley panted and moaned with each stretch of those taut globes.

“Fuck, Bishop,” Kensley panted between kisses. “Now. In me, please.”

He would never tire of those words. Never.

Bishop climbed into the hot tub first, and then he helped Kensley in.

Warm water jetted and swirled around his legs.

The tub was large enough to fit at least eight people comfortably, with long benches along two opposite sides, and shorter ones on the other two.

Bishop pulled Kensley to one of the long benches and sat, the water now up to mid-waist.

Kensley watched him with a lust-drunk expression, his cock bobbing in the water, fingertips skimming the bubbling surface.

He almost looked like a mythical water nymph, risen from the sea to tempt sailors to their doom, and Bishop could see how men would be drawn to someone like that.

Rippling light reflecting off his pale skin, moisture clinging to his roguish face, eyes full of wicked promises.

The silence too magical to break just yet, Bishop raised his hands from the water and patted its surface, mimicking patting his lap.

Inviting Kensley to sit. With a bite of his lower lip, Kensley turned his back to Bishop.

Bishop grabbed his hips and helped Kensley lower his body into the water.

Kensley reached around and clasped Bishop’s cock, holding it steady while he sank down, his hot, slick passage sucking Bishop inside in a single, smooth motion.

Leaving Kensley seated on Bishop’s lap, ass stuffed full of cock.

Kensley moaned, the sound bouncing around their private grotto, and when he clenched, Bishop’s own moan answered.

The heat of the swirling water surrounded Bishop’s lower half like a hug.

He arranged Kensley’s legs so each one was draped over one of Bishop’s own legs, spreading Kensley wide open.

Bishop reached around, first to lightly grope Kensley’s cock, and then to probe lower.

Past Kensley’s balls to rub at the rim of his hole, stretched taut by Bishop’s cock.

“How do you feel?” Bishop asked.

“So…full. Like you’re all the way up in my womb,” Kensley whispered, his voice barely audible over the hum of the hot tub’s motor. Bishop gave a tiny thrust just to hear Kensley whine. His head dropped back to Bishop’s shoulder. “Guh.”

Bishop closed his eyes and imagined he was that deep inside his omega, the head of his cock nudging right into his womb, ready to fill his fertile omega with his seed. To create a child they would love and raise and protect always.

Something reared up from deep inside Bishop, a sensation he’d never felt before, and had only heard the vaguest rumors of from others who’d fallen for omega males—a kind of claiming he couldn’t describe.

Not a physical one, despite their bodies joined so intimately.

It felt…spiritual. Soul-deep and ever-binding.

I want more.

Unsure how to deal with the feelings or if he should speak, Bishop let instinct control him.

He turned his head and bit the side of Kensley’s throat, right over his throbbing pulse point.

Kensley shouted and keened. Bishop didn’t break the skin or try to damage it, he nibbled and sucked with his mouth, while his fingers played with Kensley’s cock and balls and taint.

Kensley writhed on his lap, but he didn’t fight or try to get away.

Bishop wasn’t holding him down. Kensley grabbed at Bishop’s thighs and knees, pulling like he wanted to draw Bishop’s entire body inside through his asshole.

“Fuuuuck!” Kensley screamed. “Bishop! What?—?”

“I’ve got you, sweetheart.” Bishop licked the rough spot he’d made on Kensley’s throat. “I feel it, too.”

“Need…ugh!”

“What do you need?”

Kensley wrenched away, and Bishop’s cock left that perfect inferno, but he didn’t have time to process why.

Kensley turned, knelt on the bench, knees on each side of Bishop’s hips, and sheathed Bishop’s cock with his body once more.

They both cried out. Kensley swallowed a second yell with his mouth, kissing Bishop with a fierceness he’d never experienced before.

Kensley set a brutal pace, slamming his ass down on Bishop’s thighs, dragging his cock against Bishop’s abs with each thrust. Fucking like a man who’d die unless he orgasmed as soon as possible.

Bishop’s own breaths got dangerously short as they kissed and rocked together, water splashing all around them, and it didn’t matter.

Nothing mattered except release. Except experiencing this unfamiliar, powerful thing spinning between them, binding them together into something brand-new.

Something potent and wonderful. Bishop broke the kiss and sucked on the other side of Kensley’s neck, desperate to add a matching bruise.

Kensley’s nails scraped down his shoulders and back as he keened and fucked, an endless cycle of movement and pleasure.

Bishop lost all track of time, of sense, and of place.

He existed in this moment, when his body was alive and singing, and his entire world was Kensley Thorne.

At some point, the world stilled, and he could breathe again.

And then the world was rocking and pleasure was coursing.

It became a vortex of sensation, relaxation, sensation again, and then he was coming.

He didn’t know how many times or how long it lasted, only that when his senses began clearing, Kensley was wrapped up in his arms, head resting on his shoulder.

The jets had turned off, and he vaguely recalled setting an hour timer.

His hands had come to rest over Kensley’s ass, and he gently eased his soft cock the rest of the way out of Kensley’s limp body.

Kensley snuffled as if in protest of the loss, but Bishop was sure his dick was out of the game for a while.

He lovingly stroked Kensley’s gaping hole but didn’t press inside, worried over how long and how hard they’d gone tonight.

“Doesn’t hurt.” Kensley’s hot breath fanned across Bishop’s damp neck. “All of me is yours.”

Bishop growled possessively and dipped his middle finger inside that exquisite heat just to hear Kensley sigh.

More than the spoken words, Bishop felt their meaning in his very soul.

They had somehow claimed each other tonight, experienced something he’d never imagined, had only heard rumors of existing: the fated charum.

A primal connection between two beloved souls, stitched together in heaven and torn apart on earth, each destined to wander restlessly until reunited with their charus.

Was Kensley his other half? His charus? Had Bishop always felt this desire?

Since Kensley first came into his life? First began to inch into puberty and become appealing to Bishop?

Why every small touch from the handsome teen had felt like a direct line to Bishop’s dick?

Why it had felt safer to see Kensley sent away, than to continue tempting Bishop with his nearness?

Were they meant to be together all this time?

He was too exhausted to examine it properly tonight.

“We need to get out.” Bishop kissed Kensley’s chin. “If we fall asleep out here, we’ll both drown.”

“M’hm.”

Bishop didn’t bother with their robes. He got Kensley’s limp, uncooperative body out of the hot tub, but he was too slick to carry, so they both stumbled into the house.

Right into bed. Bishop pulled the covers up around their damp bodies and tucked Kensley close.

He barely had time to mumble a good-night to his omega before falling into a deep, dreamless sleep.